The Government must act in NZ's greater strategic interest on GM

The Government must act in NZ’s greater strategic interest on GM The Government should take the opportunity it has been offered to put New Zealand’s strategic interests to the fore in its response to the Report of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification, the Chairman of the Life Sciences Network, Dr William Rolleston, said today.

“We welcome the initiative taken by the National Party to offer the Government support to pass legislation which is consistent with the direction outlined by the Royal Commission.

“The future of the country depends on the Government preserving opportunities rather than closing them off.

“The Government must not develop an approach which turns New Zealand into a science backwater unable to keep its biology based economy competitive with the rest of the world.

“We have already lost considerable impetus because of the uncertainty which has surrounded the outcome of the Royal Commission process. What the economy needs now is the certainty of a clear path ahead that is consistent with a knowledge society. We do not need to put thousands of jobs and the viability of our agriculture, forestry and horticulture industries at risk.

“Our competitors in world markets are not going to sit back and wait for us to catch up while we have a totally unwarranted tea-break to appease the unrealistic demands of the Green Party and the other anti-GM activists.

“The Government should tell the Green Party it doesn’t need its votes and that it will work with the other parties in Parliament which also have a commitment to a modern economy,” concluded Dr Rolleston

ENDS

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